Apparatus for treating and finishing hosiery



S. BAILEY, J R

June 19, 1956 APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND FINISHING HOSIERY 7 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 8, 1951 ill NEW,

aff f s. BAILEY, JR 2,750,781

.APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND FINISHING HOSI'ERY Junel 19, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 8. 1951 INVENTOR.

5mn EY mLeYm.

HTTORI'UE-Y 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 RYl we Nm En Ve m Y E N w s A TTORNEV June 19, 1956 s. BAILEY, JR

APPARATUS F OR TREATING AND FINISHING HOSIERY Filed Dec. s, 1951 S. BAILEY, JR

June 19, 1956 APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND FINISHING HOSIERY 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 8, 1951 INVENTOR.

6'\DNEY BFH LEYJJR. MMA

ATTORNEY S. BAILEY, J R

June 19, 1956 APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND FINISHING HOSIERY 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 8, 1951 w m m mNEY emma/pw.

@Tropa/Ey June 19, 1956 s. BAILEY, JR 2,750,781

APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND FINISHING HOSIERY Filed Dec. 8, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

nTroQ/ues/ S. BAILEY, J R

June 19, 1956 APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND FINISHING HOSIERY Filed Dec. 8, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVEN T 0R.

SWNEY 'BHILEYGR- mfom/EV APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND FINISHING OSIERY This invention relates generally to apparatus for and a method of treating articles of textile material, particularly goods knitted or woven of synthetic yarns capable of being set by a heated iiuid medium, the present application being directed to an apparatus and method which incorporates improvements over the disclosure of my copending application Serial No. 181,127, filed August 17, 1951, now abandoned, and my Patent No. 2,641,120, issued June 9, 1953.

In the finishing of articles such as hosiery woven or knitted of synthetic yarns, e. g., nylon or other linear condensation polyamide yarns, it is common to subject the articles to a number of treatments, in accordance with more or less conventional practice, involving the use of heated iiuid mediums, and in order to provide the articles with a satisfatcory feel and wrinkle-free appearance the first such treatment is commonly effected by subjecting the articles to a hot vaporous pressure medium, such as steam under pressure, to pre-set the woven or knitted yarns preliminarily to subjecting the articles to the others of such treatments. Inasmuch as the aforementioned treatments are effected by the use of heated iluid mediums, considerable time and labor has been consumed in the handling of the fabricated articles during their successive treatments, much of this time and labor being wasted in transferring the articles from one treatment apparatus to another.

The present invention has as its primary object the provision of an apparatus in the nature of an autoclave in which all of the treatments requiring the use of different heated fluid mediums are applied to the articles while the latter move continuously through the apparatus, each article being uniformly subjected to the same cycle of treatments, thereby assuring not only uniformity in the iinal result but also achieving for the treated articles a finish of uniformly high quality with an economical use of the several treating media and the expenditure of a minimum amount of time and labor.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an autoclave type of apparatus having separate intercommunicating chambers through which the articles undergoing treatment move continuously so that they are pre-set while passing through certain of the chambers and undergo additional treatments while passing through other chambers, the articles being continuously subjected throughout the duration of the pre-setting and subsequent treatments to hot vaporous treatment media under superatmospheric pressure While being automatically conveyed through the several chambers in accordance with a predeterminedly fixed operational cycle.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an autoclave type of apparatus of the character andl nted States Patent riice provide an autoclave type of apparatus of the character above described having suitable provision for varying the number of separate treating chambers in the autoclave with corresponding variation in the lengths of the chambers, thereby prolonging or decreasing the time required for traverse of the articles undergoing treatment through a given chamber without changing their linear speed of travel through the autoclave.

Still another and important object of the present invention is to provide a compartmented autoclave apparatus wherein the several compartments are arranged in intercommunicating series and are all charged with treating media in the form of vapor at the same superatmospheric pressure and temperature, the treating media introduced into the several compartments being of different kind depending upon the nature of the treatment which is required to be carried out in any particular compartment as a step in the whole process or" finishing the articles passed through the autoclave. To this end, the articles, such as stockings, are iirst boarded to final shape and while so boarded are conveyed through the several compartments of the autoclave wherein they are successively treated to media operative to initially permanentize the set of the fabric yarn, to then scour and rinse the fabric preliminarily to dyeing thereof, and to finally dye the fabric to the desired shade. Inasmuch as all of these treatments are carried out by vaporous media under superatrnospheric pressure and corresponding temperature suiiciently high to effect permanent setting of the fabric to shape, it will be apparent that such setting may be eifected either prior to or during the scouring, rinsing or dyeing steps of the process. Thus, in the processing of the articles by the apparatus of the present invention, the so-called pre-setting of the fabric may be effected simultaneously as it is subjected to other treatment steps, the articles being completely treated when pre-setting to and through nal drying thereof while in their originally boarded condition.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the character and for the purpose above described having entrance and discharge gate means which are operative automatically in conjunction with suitable entrance and exit vestibules to maintain the required superatmospheric pressure of the different treating media in the several chambers of the autoclave as the articles are transferred successively from one to the other to not only insure full and adequate treatment for the articles While contained in a given chamber but to insure also the maintenance of an adequate pressure of the vaporous medium within the several chambers while the articles are being transferred from one to the other thereof, the internal operating pressureof the entrance and exit vestibules which afford ingress to and egress from the main treatment chambers of the apparatus being alternately exhausted of and charged with steam pressure by externally controlled means to afford such ingress and egress without undue loss of pressure of the vaporous media in said main treatment chambers.

Each of the aforesaid entrance and exit vestibule chambers, respectively affording ingress to and egress from the autoclave of the present invention, is provided with inner and outer closure gates for selectively sealing these chambers from the intervening or treatment chambers of the autoclave. In its general aspects, the autoclave is so designed and operated that as an individual truck c ontaining a given number of the articles to be treated is moved into the entrance vestibule through its openedv outer closure gate the interior of the vestibule is sealed 0E from the'next adjoining compartmented chamber of the autoclave by closing the inner closure gate, the compartmentedchamber being then charged with a vaporous medium at a relatively high pressure and temperature,

Patented June 19, 1956' a Upon disposition of the truck within the entrance vestibule, the outer closure gate thereof is closed, thereby sealing the interior of the entrance vestibule, following which steam under pressure equal to that of the vaporous medium in the autoclave proper is delivered into the sealed interior of said vestibule by way of' a valve controlled conduit. In this condition ofV the apparatus, the interiors of the entrance vestibule and the compartmented chambers of the autoclave are under equalized internal pressure, thus permitting the inner closurel gate to be opened and the truck shifted into the compartmented chamber of the autoclave.

After the truck is thus shifted from within the entrance vestibule into the autoclave proper, and while the internal' pressures of the said, vestibule and the autoclave are still equalized, the inner closure gate is again closed to seal olf the entrance vestibule from the compartmented autoclave, following which the internal pressure of the entrance vestibule is reduced to that of atmosphere by exhausting the high pressure steam therefrom. The outer closure gate of the entrance vestibule is then opened to permit movement of a second truck of articles tliereinto, the cycle ofY operation as just described being repeated for each truck successively fed into the autoclave.

As eachrtruck of articles passes into the compartmentcd chambers of the autoclave, it is received by a conveyor which moves it therethrough toward the exi-t vestibule located at the far end of the autoclave, and it is during this movement of the articles through the several treatment compartments of the autoclave that they are successively subjected to the various treating media respectively introduced in the several compartments in the form of vapor sprayed thereinto under superatmospheric pressure and at a temperature above 212 F.

As in the case of the entrance vestibule, the exit vestibule is also provided with inner and outer closure gates, and when the latter are both closed the exit vestibule is also charged with steam under superatmospheric pressure equal to that of the vaporous treating media sprayed into the several compartments of the autoclave proper. As each truck-load of articles undergoing treatment completes its traverse through the autoclave, the inner closure gate of theexit vestibule is opened to permit free passage of the truck into said vestibule, whereupon said inner gate is reclosed and the internal pressure of the exit vestibule is reduced to that of the atmosphere by` exhausing the high pressure steam by way of a suitably valved conduit. Thereupon the outer closureV gate of the exit vestibule is opened to permit discharge of the .finished articles from the'autoclave, each truck being successively shifted to and through the exit vestibule when the articles have been completely treated in the compartmented section of the. autoclave, Thus, the exit vestibule operates in a manner similar to that of the entrance vestibule to succes'sively accept the several trucks of articles without effecting any reduction of the pressure and` temperature of the treating media within the several intercommunicating compartments. of the autoclave,

It will be understood, of course, that it is among the objects and aims of the present invention to provide an apparatus which will efficiently operate as above described and that still other objects and advantages will be apparent from the detailed description of the present invention as hereinafter set forth.

It will be understood also that the present invention consists not only in the combination, construction, location and relative arrangement of parts as shown in the accompanying drawings, but also in the. novel continuous method of treatment made possibleby the. apparatus of the present invention, all aswill appear more fully hereinafter andasiinally pointed outin the appended claims.

In the accompanyingA drawings, which are. illustrativeV of a preferred form of apparatus constructed, in accordance with and embodying theprinciples of the` presentinvention:

Figure 1 is a side elevation view of the autoclave of the present invention, part of the compartmented section thereof being shown broken away to expose its interior;

Figure 2 is a plan view, partly in section, taken along the line 2 2 of Figure l, showing the autoclave operatively associated with external conveying means for the articles delivered to and from the autoclave;

Figure 3 is a rear end elevational view of the apparatus showing the transfer mechanism associated with the discharge end ofthe autoclave;

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional View taken along the lines 4 4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 .isa more greatly. enlarged transverse sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view as taken along line 6 6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view as taken along line 7 7 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view as taken along line 8 8 ofQF'i'gure 5';

Figure 9 is a View showing a modified construction of thel passageway through the transverse partitions of thc autoclave;

Figure l0 isa horizontal sectional View taken on. line 1.0 1'01 QflFigure 9.;

Figure 'l1 is a VerticalV sectional View as taken along line 1 1 l 1 of Figure 2;

Figure l2 is a vertical sectional view as taken along line 1,2 12 of Figure 2;

Figure 13 is a horizontal sectional View taken along line 13 13 of` Figure 1l, part of the transfer truck being shown opposite the entrance to the autoclave;

Figure 14 is an enlarged View of the encircled part of Figure 12 showing a truck about to be pulled into the exit vestibule-of the autoclave;

Figure 14A is a view of the encircled part l of Figure l2 showingV the truckV in the exit vestibule about to be pulled therefrom;

Figures 1.5 to 17 are schematic elevational views showing progressive relative positions of the trucks as they are shifted from the entrance vestibule into and through the -cornpartmented section of the autoclave;

Figure 18 is an enlarged view, partially in section, of the parts shown in the dotted circle A of Figure l5;

Figure, 1,9 is a plan view, partly in section, of the portion ofthe apparatus shown in Figure 20;

Figure 2D Ais an elevational, view, partly in section, as taken along line,2,(? 219 of Figure 19;

Figure 2l. is a.v schematic elevational section tultcu along-line 2l 23 ofY Figure 2;

Figure 22 is a schematic elevational view as (alten alongy line, 22T-22; ofV Figure 2;

Figure 2,3 is, a schematic elevational section as taken along line 2?: 23 of Figure 2;

Figure 24 is a schematic elevational section as taken along line 14s-24 of Figure 2;

Figure 25 isa plan View of the-article-supporting truck, shown partly in section7 as taken along line 25 25 of Figure 27, certain parts being omitted or broken away for the sake of clarity;

Figure 26 is an end elevational view, partially in section,` as taken along line 2 26.of Figure 27; and

Figuref 27 is a side elevational View, partly in section, as taken along line 27 27 of Figure 25A Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be observed that the present invention is essentially in the forni of an autoclave, designated generally by. the reference numeral 39, having aplurality of. chambers 31., 32 andr 33, each of: which is adapted to be closed to the atmosphereandsealed off .fromroneanother., As appears most4 clearlyin .Figures l. and. 2, the chambers 3.1, 32 and 33 are arranged, in. series, the intermediate chamber 32 being comparatively large and. having the chambers 3l and 33 disposed at opposite ends thereof for communicationtherewithE amarsi! The front end chamber 31 serves as an ventrance vestibule through which the boarded truck-supported articles to be treated by the apparatus of the present invention gain access to the normally sealed intermediate compartmented chamber 32 of the autoclave, while the rear end chamber 33 serves as the exit vestibule through which the treated articles pass upon discharge from the sealed interior of the chamber 32. This latter chamber is that in which the articles receive their required treatment, said chamber being maintained sealed to atmosphere and being adapted to be charged in successive zones thereof with different treating media consisting of suitably prepared solutions introduced into the chamber by spray nozzles at suitable superatmospheric pressure and at a temperature sufficiently high to form vaporous media capable of permanentizing the set of the fabricated articles as shaped upon their sustaining forms.

It will be noted that these chambers 31, 32 and 33 are so correlated as to permit the articles to be treated to be successively passed in a continuous line therethrough, each article being thus uniformly subjected to the same sequence of treatments. Preferably, the intermediate treatment chamber 32 of the autoclave is in the form of a large cylindrical shell disposed horizontally for accommodating a plurality of article-supporting trucks 34 placed end to end, while each of the entrance and exit vestibules 31 and 33 essentially comprises a cylindrical shell 31a, disposed vertically with its inner side in suitable cornrnunication with the adjoining end wall of the chamber 32.

Each of the vestibule chambers 31 and 33 is provided a gateway 36 in its outer side adapted to be closed by a pivotally mounted outer closure gate 37. The outer gateway 36 is generally rectangular in shape and is disposed vertically lengthwise of the associated vestibule chamber, while its closure gate 37 is similarly shaped, the latter being curved in transverse cross section to the same radius as that of the cylindrical part 31a of the associated vestibule chamber and disposed interiorly of said cylindrical part for engaging an inwardly facing gasket element 33 suitably disposed about the perimeter of the outer gateway 36. The outer closure gate 37 of each vestibule chamber is provided with a pair of relatively spaced ears 39-39 formed integrally with a central upper end portion thereof and projecting inwardly therefrom, and disposed between the ears 39-39 is an end portion 41 of a horizontally disposed member 42 also extending inwardly from the outer closure gate 37 diametrically across the cylindrical part of the associated vestibule chamber, the freely extending opposite end of member 42 being provided with a counter-weight 43. Alined openings in the ears 39--39 and in the end portion 41 of the member 42 receive a pivot pin 44 which afords free swinging movement of the outer closure gate 37 about the horizontal axis of said pivot pin from which the gate is suspended.

Formed in the member 42 intermediate the ends thereof is a socketed boss 42a which xedly receives the lower end of a vertically extending shaft 46 disposed with its axis coincident with that of the cylindrical part 3la of the vestibule chamber, the shaft 46 being journaled in a member 47 suitably supported in the top end of said cylindrical part 31a for pivotal movement about a vertical axis by means of operating mechanism to be presently described, the outer closure gates 37-37 being each thus operative to be swung through arcs of approximately 90 to close or open each of the outer gateways 36-36 of 'the vestibule chambers 31 and 33.

The vestibule chambers 31 and 33 are respectively suitably connected to the opposite end walls of the intermediate chamber 32 of the autoclave by tunnels 48 and 49,' each of the latter being rectangular in transversev cross-section and extending well through the proximate end Wall of the chamber 32. Each of the tunnels 48 and 49 corresponds in transverse cross-section with that of the outer gateways 36-36 of the vestibule chambers 31 and 33, the said tunnels being disposed in longitudinal alinement with said gateways 36-36 for movement of the trucks 34 continuously through the autoclave 30.

The open inner ends of the tunnels 48 and 49 which are located interiorly of the chamber 32, are respectively adapted to be closed or opened by inner closure gates 52-52, which are respectively similar to the outer closure gates 37--37 and are mounted in a similar manner, being moved into opened or closed position by suitable operating mechanism to be presently described. The outer closure gates 37-37, when closed, serve to hermetically seal the interior of the autoclave from atmosphere when the autoclave is internally charged with treating media introduced at superatmospheric pressure, preferably at a temperature of 220 F. or more and at a superatmospheric pressure of 5 pounds or more. The inner gates 52-52 serve to seal ol the entrance and exit vestibule chambers 31 and 33 from the interior of the intermediate chamber 32 of the autoclave when one or the other of the outer closure gates 37-37 is open, thereby maintaining within the chamber 32 the desired operating temperature and pressure of the vaporous media ernployed in the treatment of the articles passing through the autoclave.

In this connection, suitable means, not shown, are provided for exhausting the internal superatmospheric pressure of either vestibule chamber 31 and 33 before opening the outer closure gate 37 associated therewith, and for re-establishing the pressure in the exhausted chamber to that in the chamber 32 when such outer closure gate 37 is closed and the associated inner gate 52 is to be opened. The internal superatmospheric pressure referred to may be exhausted to atmosphere or to chamber 32, while the means for re-establishing the pressure in either vestibule chamber to equalize that in the treatment chamber 32 may be independent of that employed for injection of the vaporous pressure medium into chamber 32. It will be apparent, of course, that neither of the outer closure gates 37--37 will be tightly sealed except when the pressure in the associated vestibule chamber exceeds that of atmosphere, nor will either of the inner closure gates 52-52 be tightly sealed except when the pressure in the intermediate chamber 32 exceeds that in the particular vestibule chamber with which the inner closure gate is operatively associated.

As most clearly shown in Figures 5, ll, l2 and 13, the autoclave 30 is suitably fitted with a guide track arranged to receive trucks 34 for movement in a continuous line therethrough. This guide track comprises a pair of rails 53-53, each of the latter being simply formed of a suitable length of right-angular metal stock disposed horizontally to provide a rail of inverted V-shape. The rails rails 53-53 are continuous throughout the autoclave apparatus except in the immediate regions of traverse of the closure gates 37-37 and 52-S2, the continuity of the rails being there broken, as at 54, to permit movement of the gates into their opened and closed positions.

Figures 25, 26 and 27 show a preferred form of one of the trucks 34 comprising a wheeled frame 56 mounting article-carrying forms 57, which, in the illustrated instance, are hosiery forms. The frame S6 is rectangular in top plan and is preferably supported on three pairs of suitably mounted longitudinally spaced wheels 58 having grooved rims which engage the rails 53-53. rl`he frame 56 is provided with transversely extending, longitudinally spaced front and rear members 59 and 61, longitudinally extending, transversely spaced side members 62 and 63, and longitudinally spaced, transversely extending stiffener members 64, all being secured together, as by welding, to form a rigid frame structure. Preferably, the several forms 57 are spaced apart by spacer plates 66.

A shaft 67, which extends longitudinally through the stiffener members 64 in close proximity to one side member 62 of the truck, is rigidly secured at its opposite agr-enfasi.

ends to the transverse front member 59 and the transverse rear member 61.. The article-carrying forms 57, which are suitably mounted for independent pivotal movement on the shaft 67, are adapted to be swung into their full iine position shown in Figure 26, in which position they are supported by an inwardly turned liange 634 formed along the upper edge of the side member 63 of the truck, or into their inclined dotted line position also shown in Figure 26.

An intermediate portion of the transversely extending front member 59 disposed to one side of the central longitudinal axis of frame 56 suitably mounts a springpressed latch member 68 for pivotal movement about a horizontal' transverse axis. This latch member is provided with a pair of angularly related arms 69l and 7'1, the former extending forward from the pivotal axis 7i? and under transversely extending front member 59, and the latter extending rearward and downward from the pivotal axis, as best shown in Figures 18 and 27. The

forward end portion of arm '69 terminates in a hooltshaped element having a rounded front end. 72 and a straight rear edge 73, the latch being normally biased for counter-clockwise pivotal movement by a suitably mounted coil spring 74', as best shown in Figures 18 and 25. The bottom edge of an intermediate portion of the transversely extending rear member nl ot each truck is beveled, as at 76 (see Figure 18).

Qperatively associated respectively with the outer gates 37--37 of the chambers 31 and 33 are operating mechanisms 77-77, suitably mounted on base plates 7-7S each of which is rigidly supported on the top of the autoclave 39, as clearly appears in Figures 1., 2, 19 and 2G. Each mechanism 77-77 includes a uid-pressure cylinder 79 having a piston. 31 operatively connected to the pivot shaft 46 of the associated gate 37 through a link 82 and a lever 83. Upon operation of the cylinder 79, through suitable pressure fluid operatively delivered thereto by way of suitable conduits (not shown), the shaft 46 may be actuated to alternately close and open its associated outer closure gate 37.

Similarly mounted upon the base plates 7S-78 are operating mechanisms 541-34 for respectively closing and opening the inner closure gates STL-52, these latter operating mechanisms being in all material respects identical to those just described for operation of the outer closure gates. rlhus, each includes a fluid pressure cylinder 56 and a reciprocable piston 87, which latter is operatively connected to its associated pivot shaft 46 by a link S8 and a lever 29. The operation of the mechanisms 77--77 and 9.4"34 for closing and opening the. outer closure gates 37-37 and the inner closure gates 52.-@ of the chambers 31 and 33 may be effected by any desired control means (not shown) located at any point convenient to the operator in charge of the apparatus, which control means may be in the form of manually or electrically operable valves for controlling the supply of the pressure iiuid to the pressure cylinders '79--79 and Sii-34 of the operating mechanisms and for timing the operation thereof.

In order to shift the truck 34 with its load of articles to be treated through the chamber 31 of the entrance vestibule, the apparatus of the present invention includes a fluid-pressure-operated pusher mechanism 91 (see Figures 11 and 13) essentially consisting of a duid-pressure cylinder 92 mounted upon and extending outwardly from the front end wall of chamber 31. operatively associated with this cylinder 92 is a horizontally reciprocable piston 93 having a free end fitted with a roller 94 and with a truck-engaging pusher member 9d pivotally connected to said piston for swinging movement about a horizontal axis, said pusher member 86 being normally springpressed upward to engage behind the truck 341 when the latter has been shifted into its position within the chamber 31', as showniin Figure 1l. It will be apparent that upon projection of the piston 93 under the influenceV of its. uid-pressure-operated cylinder 92, the free end thereof will movefrom` the broken` line position into the full line position shown in Figure 11, during all of which movement it will be supported by the roller 94, upon thefloor 1-96 of the tunnel which extends from the interior of the cylindrical shell 31E into the interior of the main chamber 32 ofthe autoclave.

To move the truck 34 through the chamber 32, the apparatus of the presentl invention isprovided with a conveyor essentially consisting of an endless chain 97 trained over suitably supported idler sprocket 98 and a drive sprocket 99, the sprocket 98 being'disposed adjacent the fore end of the chamber 32 and the sprocket 99 being disposed adjacent the opposite or rear end of said cham-- ber. The upper run of the conveyor chain 97 isl supported, as best shown in Figure 5, by a suitably mounted channel member 101 (see Figure 5), while the lower run of chain 97 is suitably supported. by a pair of angle members 1412-102. The conveyor chain 97 is provided with equally spaced pusher elements 103, and to properly tension the chain 9.7, the lower run thereof is trained over suitablyl arranged. additional idler sprockets 104,v

1136 and l1107.

To shifti the truck 34 through the exit vestibule 33, the apparatus of the. present invention includes a Huidpressure-operated puller mechanism 198 essentially consisting of a .fluid pressure cylinder-1&9 mounted upon and extending outwardly from the rear end wall of chamber 33. Operatively associated with the cylinder 169 is a horizontally reciprocable piston 111 having its free inner end litted` with a roller 1.12 and with a truck-engaging puller member 113 rigidly associated therewith and adapted to engage the latch member 68 et each truck 34 when the latter has been advanced into its position in chamber 32 shown in broken lines in Figure 12. 1t will be apparent that upon retraction. of the piston 111 under the inliuence of its uid-pressure-operated cylinder 169, the

free end thereof will. move from its broken line to its full line position shown in Figure 1.2, during all of which movement it will be supported by the roller 112 upon the floor 11G-of the tunnel 99 which extends from the interior of the chamber 32. into thel cylindrical shell 33a of the exit vestibule 33.

The bottom of chamber 32 is divided into a plurality cf. separate basins by transversely extending, vertically disposed partition plates 114, the bottom edges of the latter being respectively shaped to fit the interior of chamber 3.2,.and being suitably secured thereto, as by welding. The upper edge 116 of each plate member 114 is straight and disposed horizontally, each of said edges being eentrally cut out, as at 117, to provide a series of longitudinally alined notches. Rigidly secured to each member 114 is an angle member 118 disposed with its upper branch, in horizontal position to bridge the notch 117 of the member 114. Also secured rigidly to each partition plate member 114 in vertically spaced, parallel relation tothe member 113 is a second angle member 119, which is centrally notched, as at 121. As most clearly shown in Figure 5, the transversely extending angle members 1.18 support thereon the longitudinally extending rails 53--53 and the guide channel 191 for the upper run of the conveyor chain 97, while the transversely extending angle members 119 support thereon the angle members Edi-*itil the latter being disposed with their co-planar horizontal legs in-laterally spaced relation. The upper run of the conveyor chain 97 moves over channel member 1M with the pusher elements 1.93 extending upward therefrom, while the lower run thereof moves over the angle members 102 1%2. with the pusher elements 163 extending downward therefrom and passing between the laterally spaced toes of the. angle members 192-102 and through the notches 121 of the members 119. The partition members 114e, 114b` and 114.0 are all generally similar to members 114, butl are modified somewhat` to meet the 9 speciai conditions existing at the opposite ends of theconveyor chain 97.

The main chamber 32 of the autoclave is divided into a number of adjoining compartments by a plurality of partitions each comprising three substantially co-planar panel members 122, 123 and 124 adapted to be mounted in vertical extension of each or' the transverse base members 114. The members 122 and 123 are similar but opposite hand, and are disposed on opposite sides of the central member 124. The lower end portions of members 122, 123 and 124 are respectively shaped to provide down- Wardly presenting channel portions 126, 127 and 123 adapted to be seated upon the upper edge 116 of their supporting base member 114, as best shown in Figure 7. The outer edges of the members 122 and 123 are shaped in general conformity with the interior of the chamber 32, and are suitably fitted with gasket elements 129. Welded to each of the plate members 122 and 123 is a reinforcing and stiffening member 131 of the general shape best shown in Figure 5, each such member 131 being provided with a pair of oppositely extending terminals ends 131EL and 131b. The upper terminal ends 13111-131a are provided with alined openings to freely receive a threaded bolt 132 having a pair of nuts 13S-133 which operate in association with the bolt to press-the plate members 122 and 123 away from each other and into firm peripheral edge contact with the internal side walls of the charnber 32. The lower terminal ends 1Mb-1311* of the stiffening members 131-131 are disposed respectively in inwardly spaced relation with respect to a pair of laterally spaced brackets 134-134 rigidly secured, as by bolts 136 (see Figure 8), to each of the base members 114. Takeup bolts 137-137 project through alined openings in the brackets 134-134 and the lower terminal ends 131i- 131b and are fitted with nuts 13S-133 which operate, when tightened, to draw the plate members laterally apart and into firm peripheral edge contact with the internal wall surface of the chamber 32.

The co-planar plate members 122 and 123, which are transversely expanded as above described to snugly and firmly fit across the circular interior of the chamber 32, are respectively cut away along their inner edges to provide a rectangular opening, generally delineated by the dotted line 135 in Figure 5, over which is fitted the central plate member 124 of the partitioning assembly. The marginal edges of this latter member overlap the corresponding edges of the rectangular opening 135, the overlapped edges being secured together by bolts 139 passing through registering oversized openings 140 in said edges, each bolt being suitably provided with a Washer 141 and a wing nut 142, all as best shown in Figure 6.

The central plate member 124 is centrally cut out, as at 143, to provide an opening through which the articles undergoing treatment may pass as they traverse the autoclave, this opening being generally of a shape conforming more or less closely to the shape of the boarded article, e. g., a stocking as shown. Preferably, the perimetral edge of the opening 143 in each of the transverse partition assemblies is tted with a gasket 144 of rubber or other suitable material to protect the fabric of the boarded article against possible injury should it engage the edge of the opening during its passage therethrough. As most clearly appears in Figure 5, the openings 143 are each enlargedat their bottom ends to provide adequate clearance for passage therethrough of the trucks 34 upon which are mounted the boarded articles (e. g., stockings as shown) In certain instances, it may be desirable to provide each of the transverse partition assemblies (conjointly formed of the members 122, 123 and 124) with a cowl arrangement as illustrated in Figures 9 and l0 and which consists generally of a sheet metal plate member 145 extending about and disposed transversely with respect to the marginal` side and top .edges of the opening 143. The plate member 145, when employed, is of a width sutiicient to project a substantial distance beyond opposite' sides of the transverse plane of the partition assembly and is further so inclined relatively to the line of travel of the articles through the autoclave as to provide a ared opening through which the boarded articles pass from one compartment to another ot the autoclave. This fiared cowl 145 serves not only to protect the articles during their passage through the partition assembly, but also serves to restrict the vaporous treatment medium employed in a given compartment from passing into the next adjoining compartment.

As is best shown in Figures 1 and 2, the main chamber 32 of the autoclave is divided by the above described partition assemblies into four main treatment compartments, namely, scour, #l rinse, #2 rinse and dye compartments. Each of these compartments is suitably piped for spraying with a suitable solution the articles as they pass therethrough, the spray system for each compartment including spraying coils 146, a return tank for the sprayed solution as shown in Figure 2, and a heater and pump (not shown). In this connection, it is to be noted that the chamber 32 is also suitably piped for spraying the interior thereof with cold water, the pipes therefor being designated by the reference numeral 147 and running substantially the full length of the chamber.

In order to shift the truck 34 out of the exit vestibule 33, the apparatus of the present invention is provi-ded with a iiuid-pressure-operated pulling mechanism 143 essentially consisting of a suitably mounted fluid-pressure cylinder 149 operatively associated with a horizontally reciprocable piston 151 having a free end portion 152 adapted to engage the arm 69 of the latch 68. The truck 34 is thus pulled off rails 53-53 on to a pair of rails 153-153 on a wheeled lateral transfer truck 154, the said rails 153-153 being adapted for alinement with the autoclave dixed rails 53-53. The lateral transfer truck 154 is arranged for movement on fixed rails 156-156 which extend transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the autoclave 30, and which are mounted on a suitable frame structure 157.

It may be pointed out that any suitable conveyor mechanism may be employed for handling the trucks 34 as they are successively discharged from the exit vestibule 33 and re-delivered to the entrance vestibule 31 of the autoclave. One such form of handling mechanism is schematically shown, such mechanism including a lateral transfer mechanism, including the aforementioned transfer truck 154, at the discharge end of the autoclave 30, another substantially similar transfer mechanism at the receiving end of the autoclave 30, and an endless chain conveyor means between the aforementioned lateral transfer mechanisms.

In order to move the lateral transfer truck 154 and the truck 34 carried thereby along the lateral rails 156-156, there is provided a ui'd-pressure-operated mechanism 158 essentially consisting of a Huid-pressure cylinder 159 suitably mounted on the frame structure 157, the cylinder 159 being operatively associated with a piston 161 horizontally reciprocable under the .inuence of cylinder 159 and having a free end portion connected to the transfer truck 154 for movement thereof between the full line and broken line positions shown in Figure 3.

ln order to move thetruck 34 off the lateral rails V153-153, when the transfer truck 154 is in the broken line position shown in Figure 3, there .is provided another fiuid-pressure-operated pusher mechanism 162 essentially consisting of a suitably mountedv iiuid pressure cylinder 163 operatively associated with a piston 164 horizontally reciprocable under the influence of cylinder 163 and having a free end portion adapted to engage the article-supporting truck 34 for shifting the latter from the lateral rails 153-153 on to a pair of iixed rails 166-166 extending lengthwise of and parallel to the autoclave 30, the rails 166-166 being suitably supported on a frame structure 167. Y

16o-166, the truck 34t- ,is received by a pair of rails 17'8- 178 carried by a wheeled lateral transfer truck 179. The latter is similar i-n construction to lateral transfer truck 154, being arranged to move over a pair of fixed rails 181-181, which are suitably supported on a frame structure 182. A fluid-pressure-operated mechanism 133, similar in construction. to the fluid-pressureoperated mechanism 158, is provided to shift the transfer truck 179. along the rails 1`81--1S1,v while a fluidpressure-operated mechanism 184 similar to the uidpressure-operated mechanism 162, is provided to push the truck 34' from the rails 1715-178A on to the rails 553-53 and into the entrance vestibule 31 of the autoclave.

In operation it will be seen that the article-supporting truck 34 is moved from thel broken line position thereof within the entrance vestibule 31 (as. shown in Figure 11) to the next preceding full line position thereof in chamber 32 by extension of piston 93 from the broken line position intol the full line position thereof, In the full line position of truck 34 just referred to, the front end thereof abuts the rear end of the next preceding truck 34, these trucks being thereby coupled together by engagement of the hooked arm 69 of latch 68 of the trailing truck with the rear member 61 of the leading truck, as most plainly shown in. Figure 1.8. In this connection, it will be noted that While the saidi trailing truck is not positively engaged by any of the pusher elements 103 of the endless conveyor chain 97, as is apparent from a study of Figures l1 and l5, the truck immediately ahead of it is in position to be engaged by one of said pusher elements of the conveyor chain. As the latter truck is thus engaged by the conveyor and is moved forwardly through the chamber 32, it pullsthe coupled trailing truck with it until the arm 71 of the aforesaid latch 68 engages a fixed trip bar 186 (see Figures 15 and 18)7 whereuponthe arm 69 of said latch 68 is freed to swing downward out of engagement with the rear member 61, of the leading truck, the trucks being thus uncoupled, as plainly shown in Figures 16 and 17, from which it willV also be seen that the uncoupled trailing truck is not positively engaged by a pusher element 103 of the conveyor chain until it is separated somewhat from the leading one of the uncoupled trucks.

When an article-supporting truck 34 reaches a position slightly in advance ofthe last full line position thereof shown in Figure 12, the conveyor chain pusher element 103, which has moved it to such position, moves downward out of engagement therewith, whereupon said truck is engaged by the next. following truck and is pushed by the latter into its broken line position shown in Figure 12, the engaged trucksl being meanwhile re-coupled by the latch member 68. As the lea-ding truck assumes its last-mentioned dotted line position, the latch= member 68 is again tripped by a suitably positioned xed trip4 bar 187, whereupon the trucks are again uncoupled', as shown in Figure l2.

In the bro-ken line position of the truck-pulling piston 1111 shown in Figure l2, the extension 113 thereof engages the arm 71 ofthe latch member 68, as most plainly shown in Figure 14, whereupon when the piston 111 is retracted to its full' line position thereof, the article supporting truck 34 is pulled intothe exit vestibule 33 wherein it assumes the dotted line position as shown. In this position, the armA 69-A of latch member 68 is engaged by the freely extending hooked end. 152 of thepiston 151, as plainly shown `in Figure- 14A, which: latter, when retracted, operates to pull the article-supporting truck out of the exit vestibule 33 ontov the rails` 153-153 of the lateral transfer truck 54. This latter truck, which is moved to and fro along rails 156-156 by extension and retraction of the. piston 161, may thus be disposed in position so that the rails 153-153 carried thereby are in alinement with the external rails 166-166 (see Figure 2) whereupon, by projection of the piston 16.4 the article-supporting truck 34v is shifted. from the rails 153-153 on to the vrai1s166--166- At this point the article-supporting truck` 34 is engaged by a pusher element 176 on the endless chainA of` the conveyor 168 (.see Figure .24) and moved at a comparatively slow rate along the. external rails 166.-166 to allow sufficient time for the operations of drying: the treated stockings and of stripping the dried stockings from the forms 57 and replacingthem with other stockings to be treated. Preferably, the conveyor 168 traverses a suitably heated dryingchamber 188 to complete4 the drying of the stockings as` soonl as= possible after their transference to the conveyor 168.

the pusher element 1-76 of the chain conveyor 168` movesl downward out of engagement therewith following which the single pusher element 177 on the endless chain ofl the conveyor 172 engages such truck and moves it at a comparatively fast rate over the remainder of the rails 16a-166 and onto the rails` 178-178 of the transfer truck 179, which latter is then moved along the transverse rails 181-181 by projection of the piston 183a of the uid-pressure-opera-ted mechanism 1183. When retracted, such piston 183EL positions the transfer truck 179 so that lthe rails 178-178 carried thereby are in alinement with the rails 166-166, and when extended, such piston positions the transfer truck 179 so that the rails 178-178 thereof are in alinement with the rails 53-53 extending through the autoclave. In this latter position of the transfer truck 179, the piston of the fiuidpressure-operated mechanism 184 is projected to push thetruck 34 off the rails 17 8-178 and along the rails 53-53 to the broken link position shown in Figure 11.

Of course, while the truck 34 is passing into the entrance vestibule 31, the outer gate 37 of the latter must be open, and while this outer gate 37 is open, the inner gate 52 of said vestibule will be closed. When the articlesupporting truck 34 has assumed they broken line position in the vestibule 31, as shown in Figure 11', the outer gate 37 is closedV behind' it. As the truck 34 entersthe vestibule 31, the piston 93 is in its retracted position, While its pivoted spring-pressed arm 96 is in the broken line-position shown in Figure 11. Continued movement of the truck 34 into the entrance vestibule brings it intol Contact with the sloping back of the arm 96, which is' de: pressed by the truck While the latter passes over it, following which the pivoted arm 96 springs upward to engage the back end of the truck, as shown in Figure 11.

While the truck 34 is passing from the main charnber 32 of the autoclave into the exit vestibule 33, the inner gateV 52 of the latter is open, and the outer gate 37 thereof is closed. When the tinck 34 has assumed the broken line position thereof in the exit vestibule 33 shown in Figure I2, the inner gate 52 is closed behindv the truck and the outer gate 37 is opened before it. As will be apparent, numerous breaks occur in the rails 53-53, and additional breaks occur between the latter and the rails 16o-166 on the one hand and the rails 153-153 and 178-178 on the other. In order to provide for smooth passage of the truck 341 over these breaks, the truck 34 is fitted with a set of six wheels 58 instead of only four wheels with the Wheel spacing such that at least fourr of' the wheels will bear solidly on the rails at all times.

Each of theV treatment` materials is preferably circulated through a separate conduit system, theV piping of4 When the` truck* 34'. has traveledV about half the length of the rails 166-166,

vedrei which interiorly of the autoclave chamber 32 is suitably bent and disposed as shown in Figures l and 2 to provide laterally spaced spray nozzle manifolds. The dye solution is passed .through a heater that heats it to the desired temperature and thence through a pump for discharge from the spray nozzles at superatmospheric pressure. The other treatment solutions, such as those employed for scouring, rinsing, etc., are similarly delivered to and discharged from the spray nozzles at the desired elevated temperature and superatmospheric pressure, the interior of the compartmented autoclave chamber 32 being thus constantly charged throughout with a hot vapor at superatmospheric pressure capable of setting the synthetic yarn fabric into its boarded shape. Of course, the spray nozzles are arranged so that the spray therefrom reaches every part of the stockings being treated. The excess of the treating media sprayed upon the articles collects in the bottom wells of the several compartments from whence it is suitably drawn olf in solution form. In the case of the sprayed dye solution, the excess of the latter is preferably returned to the supply tank therefor wherein it may be periodically checked for quality, concentration and quantity and supplemented as desired with additional dye solution. When it is desired for any reason to cool the apparatus quickly, the interior of the autoclave may be sprayed with cold water by any suitable means, such as, for example, cold water spray conduits 147-147.

It will be apparent that the number and size of the several compartments in the main chamber 32 of the autoclave are variable. For example, the panel 122, 123 and 124 of any partition assembly may be removed entirely to make one less compartment, or an additional set of such panels may be added for association with any one of the fixed plate members 114 to make up still another compartment. Or, such partition assemblies may be relatively disposed otherwise than as shown to change the size of the compartments in the autoclave. Of course, when the size and/ or number of compartments is changed it will be necessary to make corresponding changes in the arrangement of the spraying coils. At times it may be convenient to use more than one compartment for a single treatment rather than one large compartment.

In erecting the panels 122, 123 and 124 to complete a partition, it will be apparent that the gasket elements 129 may be forced tight against the internal wall of chamber 32 by properly manipulating the threaded members 132 and bolts 137. The panel 124 is made removable so that it can be replaced by another such panel which will accommodate a differently shaped form, and it will be noted that as the stockings or other articles pass therethrough they operatively complete the separation of the compartments from one another.

inasmuch as a given article-supporting truck 34 functions to pull its next succeeding truck into position to be engaged by the pusher element 103 of the endless chain conveyor 97, at the same timethat it functions to push the next preceding truck into position to be engaged by the arm 113 rigidly xed to the pull piston111 operating within the exit vestibule 33, it will be apparent that the apparatus requires the use of a plurality of trucks 34 moving in tandem relation along a continuous line of travel through the autoclave proper. However, it will be understood that not all the trucks need be loaded with articles to be treated, the unloaded trucks serving merely to advance the preceding and following trucks in properly timed sequence.

In operation of the apparatus as hereinbefore described, it will be understood that prior to entry of any of the boarded articles to be treated into the main chamber 32 of the autoclave, the several treating media to which the articles are to be subjected will be sprayed in finely subdivided form at the required elevated temperature and superatmospheric pressure in the separate compartments of the main treating chamber, thereby charging the whole interior of the latter with a hot vaporous medium capable of setting the articles permanently into the shape determined by their supporting forms. Of course, when the treating media is so introduced into the autoclave chamber 32, the inner closure gates 52-52 will be in their closed positions and will be pressed tightly against their respective gateways by the superatmospheric pressure of the vaporous medium in said chamber 32 to maintain it Vhermetically sealed ol from atmosphere.

l'n this initially internally charged condition of the autoclave, the outer closure gate 37 of the entrance vestibule 31 will be open to permit the entry into said vestibule of a suitably loaded article-supporting truck 34, this truck being propelled into the entrance vestibule by the piston of the litiid-pressure-operated mechanism 184. Once said truck 34 is disposed entirely within the entrance vestibule 3l, the outer closure gate 37 thereof is closed (by the means hereinbefore described) and the interior of said vestibule is then charged withy steam at superatmospheric pressure substantially equal to the pressure of the medium contained in the main chamber 32 of the autoclave. Upon so equalizing the pressures within the chambers 3l and 32, the inner closure gate 52 may then be opened, following which the given truck 34 is propelled by the lluid-pressure-operated piston 93 into the chamber 32 where it is engaged by the chain conveyor 97 for continued movement through the several compartments of the main treating chamber 32 of the autoclave.

Upon such movement of the truck 34 from the entrance vestibule 31 into the autoclave chamber 32, the inner closure gate 52 is reclosed, the internal pressure 0f said vestibule is exhausted (to atmosphere or otherwise), and the outer closure gate 37 is then reopened to permit entry of a second truck into the entrance vestibule, which, by the same procedure as above described, is subsequently moved into the autoclave chamber 32 without any reduction in the internal operating pressure of the latter.

It will be understood, of course, that the inner closure gate 52 is opened only when the outer closure gate 37 is closed and the chamber therebetween is charged with steam at a pressure sufiicient to equalize that of the main chamber 32 of the autoclave; and that the outer closure gate 37 is opened only when the inner closure gate is closed and after the pressure in the chamber therebetween is reduced to that of atmosphere. These same conditions operate both for the entrance vestibule 31 and the exit vestibule 33.

As each truck in the continuous line series thereof is moved into the autoclave chamber 32, it latches on to the next preceding truck and remains so latched until it is pulled into position to be itself engaged by the chain conveyor 97. When a given truck in the line of the conveyor-propelled trucks approaches the exit end of the autoclave chamber 32, the inner closure gate S2 at said exit end opens (by the means hereinbefore described) and said truck is then pulled by the piston 111 of the uid-pressure-operated mechanism 108 entirely within the exit vestibule 33, which latter was charged with steam at a pressure equal to that of the autoclave proper. Thereupon the said closure gate 52 is reclosed, the internal pressure of the exit vestibule 33 is exhausted (to atmosphere or otherwise), and the outer closure gate 37 at the exit end of the exit vestibule is then reopened to per mit withdrawal of the truck 34- by means of the puller piston 151 of the lluid-pressure-operated mechanism 148, which latter operates to position the article-supporting truck 34 upon the lateral transfer carriage 154.

This latter carriage shifts back and forth along the lateral rails 156-156 to successively shift the several article-supporting trucks 34 from a position in line with the autoclave tracks 53-53 into a laterally displaced po? sition in line `with the external conveyor tracks 166-166,: onto which latter tracks each of the article-supporting 17 while all of said chambers are hermetically sealed from each other and from atmosphere, a plurality of partitions in said elongated chamber fo:` division thereof into compartments, each of said partitions having an opening therein for passage of said articles therethrough, said opening being of an outline closely conforming to that of the article to be passed therethrough so that said opening is substantially closed by passage of the articles successively therethrough, said articles being subjected to a presetting treatment effected by said pressure media, and means in each of said compartments for subjecting said articles to additional treatments.

2. Apparatus for treating textile articles as vclaimed in claim 1 wherein the partitions in the elongated chamber comprise a first set of sections fixed in the bottom of said chamber to form therewith a number of basins and a second set of sections engageable with the sections of said first set, each of the sections of said second set being positionable for engagement with a selected section of the first set to vary the length of the compartments and being removable to vary the number thereof.

3. Apparatus for treating textile articles as claimed in claim l wherein the means for subjecting the articles to additional treatments comprises spray means in each compartment of the elongated chamber, and wherein means is provided for draining the liquid collecting in the bottoms of the compartments of said chamber.

4. In an apparatus for treating textile articles, an autoclave comprising an elongated chamberand receiving and discharge chambers disposed at opposite ends thereof, all for receiving and containing respectively heated vapor ous treating media under superatrnospheric pressure, said chambers being interrelated for progressive passage of said articles therethrough and said elongated chamber being communicable with said receiving and discharge chambers, a plurality of partitions in said elongated chamber for division thereof into compartments, each of said partitions having an opening therein for passage of said articles therethrough, said opening being of an outline closely conforming to that of the article to be passed therethrough so that said opening is substantially closed by passage of the articles successively therethrough, a conveying system for mounting said articles in upright position and moving the same in succession through said chambers, said articles being subjected to a presetting treatment effected by said pressure media, and means in each of said compartments arranged in vertically extending banks on each side of the path traversed by said articles for spraying said articles, the spray means for the several compartments being connected respectively to sources of spray solution different in kind for subjecting said articles to an additional different treatment in each of said compartments.

5. Apparatus for treating textile materials as defined in claim 4 wherein said chambers are arranged in straight line relation.

6. Apparatus for treating textile materials as claimed in claim 4 wherein the conveying system for mounting and moving the articles through the chambers comprises a series of article supporting members, and mechanism in each of said chambers to engage and move said article supporting members therein, the mechanism in the first chamber being constructed and arranged to move said article supporting members successively from the first chamber into operative engagement with the mechanism in the second chamber, the mechanism in said second chamber being constructed and arranged to move the article supporting members successively through the second chamber and into operative engagement with the mechanism in the third chamber, and the mechanism in said third chamber being constructed and arranged to move said supporting members from the second chamber into the third chamber.

7. Apparatus for treating textile materials as claimed in claim 4 wherein the conveying system for mounting and moving the articles through the chambers comprises a series of article supporting members, each provided with detachable coupling means for detachable coupling engagement with the preceding supporting member in the series, and mechanism in each of said chambers to engage and move said article supporting members therein, the mechanism in the rst chamber being constructed and arranged to move said article supporting members successively from the first chamber into operative engagement with the mechanism in the second chamber, the mechanism in said second chamber being constructed and arranged to move the article supporting members. successively through the second chamber and into operative engagement with the mechanism in the third chamber, and the mechanism in said third chamber being constructed and arranged to move said supporting members from the second chamber into the third chamber.

8. Apparatus for treating textile materials as claimed in claim 4 wherein the conveying system for mounting and moving the articles through the chambers comprises a series of article supporting members, each provided with detachable coupling means for detachable coupling engagement with the preceding supporting member in the series, and mechanism in each of said chambers to engage and move said article supporting members therein, the mechanism in the first chamber being constructed and arranged to move said article supporting members successively from the first chamber into operative engagement with the mechanism in the second chamber, the mechanism in said second chamber being constructed and arranged to move the article supporting members successively through the second chamber and into operative engagement with the mechanism in the third chamber, and the mechanism in said third chamber being constructed and arranged to move said supporting members from the second chamber into the third chamber, and wherein means is provided for automatically uncoupling the article supporting members.

9. Apparatus for treating textile materials as claimed in claim 4 wherein the conveying system for mounting and moving the articles through the chambers comprises a series of article supporting members, each provided with detachable coupling means for detachable coupling engagement with the preceding supporting member in the series, and mechanism in each of said chambers to engage and move said article supporting members therein, the mechanism in the rst chamber being constructed and arranged to move said article supporting members successively from the first chamber into operative engagement with the mechanism in the second chamber, the mechanism in said second chamber being constructed and arranged to move the article supporting members successively through the second chamber and into operative engagement with the mechanism in the third chamber, and the mechanism in said third chamber being constructed and arranged to move said supporting members from the second chamber into the third chamber, and wherein the said coupling means comprises coacting latch elements in respectively opposite ends of each successive pair of the article supporting members.

l0. Apparatus for treating textile materials as claimed in claim 4 wherein the conveying system for mounting and moving the articles through the chambers comprises a series of article supporting members, each provided with detachable coupling means for detachable coupling engagement with the preceding supporting member in the series, and mechanism in each of said chambers to engage and move said article supporting members therein, the mechanism in the first chamber being constructed and arranged to move said article supporting members successively from the first chamber into operative engagement with the mechanism in the second chamber, the mechanism in said second chamber being constructed and arranged to move the article supporting members successively through the second chamber and into operative engagement with the mechanism the -third chamber, and the mechanism in said third chamber being constructed and arranged to move said supporting members from the second chamber into the third chamber, and wherein the said coupling means comprises coacting latch elements in respectively opposite ends of each successive pair of the article supporting members, said iirst-menti0ned coupling means comprising coacting latch elements in respectively opposite ends of each successive pair of the article supporting members and said last-mentioned uncou-pling means comprising a iiXed member predeterminedly positioned for engagement by said latch elements.

11. In apparatus for treating textile materials, an autoclave having a set of three article-receiving `chambers communicating with one another and arranged in -straight line series relation and for containing vaporous treating media under superatmospheric pressure, and a conveying system for moving the articles in a straight line through said chambers, said system including a line of article supporting members, a pusher member Within the irst of said chambers, timid-pressure operated means extending through a Wall of said tirst chamber land Carr-ying said pusher member, an endless conveyor within the Vsecond of said chambers, and a puller member shiftable fore and aft 2) Within the third of said chambers, said pusher member being shifta'ble fore and alt Within said 'first chamber and disposed 'in the vpath of ,said article supporting members' for pushing the same successively from the interior of said rst chamber into operative engagement with said con-v veyor in the second chamber and being arranged for yielding .movement for passage of said article supporting members thereby, said conveyor being arranged to receive said article supporting members and to successively move the same `through said second chamber into operative engagement with said puller member, and said puller member being arranged to receive said article supporting members from said conveyor and to .pull the same successively into the interior of said third chamber.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 685,949 Seither Nov. 5, 1901 1,092,976 Cilley Apr. 14, 1914 2,350,021 Dunn May 30, 1944 2,365,931 Benger Dec. 26, 1944 2,550,559 Heldmaier Apr. 24, 1951 2,574,970 Heldmaier Nov. 13, 1951 2,641,120 Bailey June 9 1953 

